Fire Door Inspection Checklist

What Is a Fire Door Inspection?

A fire door inspection is a structured check of the condition and operation of each fire door in a premises. Its purpose is to confirm that the door still performs as it was built and installed to, because a fire door is only effective when the frame, the leaf, and all of its hardware are intact and working together. An inspection looks at the door as a whole system, not just the panel. That means the frame, the hinges and pivots, the locks and latches, the door bolts, the emergency exit hardware, and the door closers all come under review. It also covers subtler conditions that are easy to miss, such as incorrect clearances, missing certification labels, unused fixing holes, and inappropriate modifications. This checklist supports that work by giving you the sections and items to examine, and by letting you record defects and annotate images on site.

Why Fire Door Inspections Matter

A fire door is a life safety device. Its job is to hold back fire and smoke long enough for people to leave the building. That job depends on the door performing as a complete assembly. A missing latch, a hinge that has worked loose, a pair of leaves that no longer meet correctly, or a door that drags on the floor can all stop the door from closing fully when it is needed. Several of the items on this checklist relate to clearances and tolerances. A door that does not sit correctly within its frame, or leaves that do not close to each other as intended, will not seal the opening. Other items relate to the labels and fixing holes that show the door has not been altered in ways that undermine its performance. Checking these conditions regularly lets you find and correct problems before they affect the door's ability to do its job.

What a Good Fire Door Inspection Covers

A thorough inspection moves through the door in a consistent order, so nothing is overlooked. The sections of this checklist follow that logic: - **Tolerances** — the clearance at the top, bottom, hinge edge, lock edge, and between the leaves of a pair of doors. - **Door frame** — whether it is properly secured, undamaged, free of rust, correctly aligned, and not modified or fitted with unused fixing holes. This also covers glazing in the sidelight or overpanel, beading, and the certification label on the frame edge. - **Door leaf** — whether the leaf or leaves are present, undamaged, free of rust and delamination, and correctly glazed, with a glazing kit that is properly secured and a certification label on the door edge. It also covers field modifications, hardware preparation, unused fixing holes, and the adequacy of the installation. - **Operational test** — whether the door swings freely, closes fully, and latches correctly, whether an electric strike allows it to close, whether the bottom drags or the door rubs the frame, whether the leaves of paired doors operate correctly, and whether the coordinator works. - **Hinges and pivots** — whether hinges are present, of the correct type, fixed securely, with screws in place, and not in need of replacement. - **Door bolts** — whether top and bottom flush bolts, strikes, bolt heads, and friction plates are all present, of an appropriate type, and engaging correctly. - **Locks** — whether the lock is present and the latch projection is correct. - **Emergency exit hardware** — the hardware that lets the door be used for escape. - **Door closers** — the mechanism that returns the door to its closed position. - **Miscellaneous and other checks** — anything that does not fall into the sections above. Because the checklist lets you record each of these items and attach annotated images, you can give a clear picture of the door's condition and the repairs it needs.

How to Carry Out a Fire Door Inspection

Work through the door in a logical sequence and record your findings as you go. 1. Note the door. Record the unique identifier of the fire door, its location within the premises, who prepared the inspection, and when and where it was conducted. 2. Check the clearances. Measure or assess the clearance at the top, bottom, hinge edge, and lock edge, and between the leaves if it is a pair. Record any that are inadequate or incorrect. 3. Examine the frame. Look for poor securing, damage, rust, misalignment, a missing certification label on the frame edge, and inappropriate modifications. Check the sidelight or overpanel for inappropriate or broken glazing, missing beading, and beading missing around the screws. Note any poor hardware preparation and any unused fixing holes. 4. Examine the door leaf. Confirm the leaf or leaves are present and check for damage, rust, and delamination. Check the door light for incorrect or broken glazing, glass that is too large for the door, a poorly secured glazing kit, and missing screws. Look for incorrect field modifications, poor hardware preparation, unused fixing holes, and inadequate installations. Check for the certification label on the door edge. 5. Operate the door. Open and close it and confirm it swings freely, closes fully, and latches correctly. Check that an electric strike allows the door to close, that the bottom does not drag, and that the door does not rub against the frame. For paired doors, confirm the leaf edges operate correctly and that the coordinator works. 6. Inspect the hinges and pivots. Check that hinges are present and of the correct type, that they are not loose, that all screws are in place, and that none require replacement. 7. Inspect the door bolts. Check the top and bottom flush bolts, strikes, bolt heads, and friction plates. Confirm the bolts are of an appropriate type and that the bottom bolt engages in the strike. 8. Inspect the locks. Confirm the lock is present and the latch projection is correct. 9. Check the emergency exit hardware and door closers. 10. Record remaining issues under the miscellaneous and other checks sections, annotate any images you have taken, and generate the report on site. Use one entry per door so that each record stands alone, and note any defect that requires repair or replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

You inspect each fire door against the checklist items covering tolerances, the door frame, the door leaf, operational tests, hinges and pivots, door bolts, locks, emergency exit hardware, and door closers. For each item you record whether the condition is present or correct, then note any defects that need repair or replacement.

The checklist covers clearances and tolerances around the door, the condition and securing of the frame, the condition of the door leaf or leaves, whether the door swings, closes, and latches correctly, the condition of hinges and pivots, door bolts and flush bolts, locks, emergency exit hardware, door closers, and miscellaneous items such as glazing and unused fixing holes.

You start by recording where and when the inspection took place, who carried it out, and the unique identifier and location of the door. You then work through each section of the checklist, checking the frame, the door leaf, the door's operation, and its hardware, and noting any defects that require repair or replacement. You can annotate images taken during the inspection and produce the report on site using your mobile device.

The checklist checks for missing certification labels on the frame or door edge, missing or incorrect hinge types, missing screws, missing flush bolts and strikes, incorrect latch projection, damaged or poorly secured frames, damaged or delaminated door leaves, and doors that do not swing, close, or latch correctly.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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